Board approves summer‑program MOA and retirement‑related agreements for administrators and CSEA

The board approved several personnel and program agreements on April 16 that the administration described as tools to reduce long‑term payroll costs and to use one‑time grants for learning recovery.

Interim Superintendent Justin McGrath presented a supplemental memorandum of agreement for summer learning camps (elementary and middle‑school programs) funded through ARP ESSER COVID‑relief grants. Miss Santa Barbara told the board these programs focus on targeted literacy and math instruction (tier 2 and tier 3 students) and that the ARP ESSER funds allocated for learning loss must be spent by September 2024; the elementary program was estimated at about $27,000. Administration emphasized the MOA is grant‑funded and therefore does not draw on the district's general operating budget for 2024–25.

Trustees then approved a supplemental MOA with the Carmel Administrators Association, which the administration said makes certain members eligible to retire earlier without penalty (minimum 10 years of service and age 54 by 2025). Officials described that MOA as a non‑cash, one‑time tool intended to reduce longer‑term salary expense by encouraging voluntary retirements and replacements at lower salary steps.

The board also approved a supplemental agreement with Carmel CSEA that shortens the typical 18‑month retirement notice period for CSEA members; administration stated this change carries no district cost but gives staff a path to retire sooner and the district an orderly means to realize personnel savings. The board approved an extension of a probationary period for an identified employee (by employee number) and approved the Putnam‑Northern Westchester BOCES proposed administrative budget ($11,596,000).

Votes and procedural notes: the MOAs and the BOCES administrative budget were approved by voice vote in open session after committee discussion; trustees asked for follow‑up reporting on take‑up rates for retirement incentives and for details on grant use and staffing levels for summer programs.

Provenance: MOA and retirement MOA discussion and votes appear beginning at SEG 1757 through SEG 2704 (summer program and related MOAs).